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You are here - Local Construction Industry to follow Building Information Modelling (BIM) requirements for Governme

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Local Construction Industry to follow Building Information Modelling (BIM) requirements for Governme

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is an interactive way in which a building is designed and developed within a virtual computer model before any on-site construction activity is carried out, leading to a decrease in both construction time and on-site issues. 
 
The UK Government Construction Strategy published in 2011 announced the UK Government intention to require BIM Level 2 on its construction projects by 2016, potentially on any value of contract.  Private sector clients, such as leading UK retailers, are also acting as drivers for the adoption and use of BIM on construction projects.  NI construction companies will need to be in a position to operate in a BIM environment in order to compete for future UK Government public works.

How will this affect us in Northern Ireland?
 
From 1 April 2016, all appropriate construction projects which are procured by a Centre of Procurement Expertise (CoPE) and which have a value above the EU Thresholds for construction works (currently £4.3m approximately), will be delivered to BIM Level 2. The implementation of BIM Level 2 has the potential to generate efficiency savings in Government’s construction projects.
 
Therefore main contractors, subcontractors and construction consultants interested in
bidding for future Government construction contracts should act now to:
 

  • Adopt BIM Level 2 work practices within their organisations;
 
The Government has recently refined its definition of Level 2 BIM as having the following seven components:
 
  1. PAS 1192-2:2013
  2. PAS 1192-3:2014
  3. BS 1192-4
  4. Building Information Model Protocol
  5. Government Soft Landings (GSL)
  6. Digitial Plan of Work
  7. Classification
 
Components 1-5 are either readily available or are due to be published shortly. The preparation of 6 and 7 are due for completion in March 2015.
 
  • Develop training for their staff in the use of BIM authoring software;
 
  • Implement the methodology for delivery of projects to BIM Level 2 maturity in accordance with the Publicly Available Specifications (PAS)1192 series; and
 
  • Promote collaborative working practices within their design and supply teams.
 
Further information regarding BIM is available from the BIM Task Group website:
http://www.bimtaskgroup.org/